Campaign 2012

Colorado Shooting Victim Challenges Candidates on Gun Violence

A victim of the Colorado movie-theater shooting is challenging the presidential candidates to release a plan to reduce gun violence.

Stephen Barton, who was shot in the face and neck in an Aurora, Colo., theater in July, is featured in an online video ad saying that during the next president’s term, 48,000 people will be killed with guns — enough to fill more than 200 theaters.

“So, when you watch the presidential debates ask yourself, who has a plan to stop gun violence,” says Barton, shown sitting in a movie theater. “Let’s demand a plan.”

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A lone gunman killed 12 people and injured 58 others on July 20 when he opened fire on a crowded theater. Both presidential candidates took a break from campaigning to pay tribute to the victims at the time, but neither addressed the issue of gun violence.